Pete's occasional blog of shareable collations of random thoughts.
Sometimes sardonic often pretentiously sententious.
A salacious salvo on Software or Science.
A barrage on Society and Citizenry.
Skipped pebbles of seditious psephological impertinence.
Or the increasingly angst ridden ramblings of the local village neck beard...
(have a nice one anyway)

MAJURO DECLARATION FOR CLIMATE LEADERSHIP

1.
Climate change has arrived. It is the greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific and one of the greatest challenges for the entire world.

2.
There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that escalating greenhouse gas
emissions continue to cause the sharp rise in average global temperatures over the past century, the alarming acidification of our oceans, the rapid loss of polar sea ice, sea-level rise, and the striking incidence of more frequent and extreme weather events all over the world.

3.
On 9 May 2013, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide measured near
the summit of Mauna Loa in Hawaii exceeded 400 parts per million for the first time since measurements began. In crossing this historic threshold, the world entered a new danger zone. Unless we quickly change course, global average temperatures are projected to rise by 4C or more above pre-industrial levels by the end of the Century, resulting in unprecedented human and environmental impacts.

4.
We,, the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, underline the need for urgent
action at all levels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions commensurate with the science and to respond urgently and sufficiently to the social, economic and security impacts of climate change to ensure the survival and viability of all Pacific small island developing States, in particular low-lying atoll States, and other vulnerable countries and regions worldwide.

5.
At the same time, we recognize that the necessary energy revolution and
economic transformation to low carbon development is an unprecedented opportunity to enhance our security, protect and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources and environment, and to improve our people's health.

Our Responsibility to Act

6.
We confirm the responsibility of all to act to urgently reduce and phase down
greenhouse gas pollution in order to avert a climate crisis for present and future generations.

7.
The responsibility of all to act falls to every government, every company, every organization and every person with the capacity to do so, both individually and collectively.

Our Commitment to be Climate Leaders

8.
We commit to be Climate Leaders.

9.
To lead is to act. In supporting this Declaration, a government, economic entity, company, civil society organization or individual commits to demonstrate climate leadership through action that contributes to the urgent reduction and phase down of greenhouse gas pollution.

10.
Recognizing our unique vulnerability to climate change, the predicted
catastrophic impacts on the security and livelihoods of our people, and the significant benefits that come with our transition to renewable, clean and sustainable energy sources, we, the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, confirm our climate leadership in the form of the commitments listed at the end of this Declaration.
We also want to do more.

11.
We call on our partners to enhance, accelerate and ensure the effective delivery of their support for the design and implementation of the commitments of the Pacific small island developing States.

12.
We also call on others, in particular our Post-Forum Dialogue Partners, to
contribute to the urgent reduction and phase down of greenhouse gas pollution.

13.
This Declaration is a platform for an upward spiral of action to urgently reduce and phase down greenhouse gas pollution. Those who support this Declaration are strongly encouraged to continue to scale-up their efforts by submitting for listing further specific commitments that contribute more than previous efforts to the urgent reduction and phase down of greenhouse pollution.

14.
In addition, we commit to accelerate and intensify our efforts to prepare for and adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change, and to further develop and implement policies, strategies and legislative frameworks, with support where necessary, to climate-proof our essential physical infrastructure, adapt our key economic sectors and ensure climate-resilient sustainable development for present and future generations.

15.
This Declaration will be presented by the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum to
the Secretary-General of the United Nations as a contribution to his efforts to catalyze ambitious climate action and mobilize political will for a universal, ambitious and legally-binding climate change agreement by 2015.

16.
This Declaration and the actions under it are intended to complement,
strengthen and augment processes under way and commitments already made,
including those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
and its Kyoto Protocol.

17.
We agree to review the status and implementation of this Declaration at the 45th Pacific Island Forum Leaders' meeting.

Adopted in Majuro, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
on this, the 5th day of September, 2013.

Australia will unconditionally reduce its emissions by 5%
below 2000 levels by 2020, and by up to 15% by 2020 if
there is a global agreement which falls short of securing
atmospheric stabilisation at 450 ppm carbon dioxide
equivalent (CO2-eq) under which major developing
economies commit to substantially restrain emissions
and advanced economies take on commitments
comparable to Australia's.

Australia will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25%
on 2000 levels by 2020 if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal capable of stabilising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
at 450 ppm CO2-eq or lower.

The Emissions Trading Scheme is New Zealand?s primary tool to help reduce New Zealand?s emissions and help New Zealand meet its international obligations under the United Nationals Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The NZ ETS has ensured New Zealand will meet its binding emissions reduction
commitment under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. It will be a key tool to help NZ meet its 2020 target and any future targets,
and will continue to develop through a series of independent reviews.

Deliver clean, secure and affordable energy for all citizens of Palau while treating the
environment responsibly.
Respond to the risk of climate change by adaptation to changes and by mitigation through reducing greenhouse gases caused by the production an\
d use of energy.

1. To reduce the growth rate in the volume of imported fossil fuels by 10% by 2016. The
high level indicators for this overarching goal/objective are:
a. Energy Sector Plan launched and implemented with at least 75% of targets achieved by 2016;
b. Increase in the contribution of RE to total energy consumption by 10% by 2016;
c. Increase in the supply of RE for energy services by 10% by 2016;

2. Increase Public and Private investment on Renewable Energy in transport fuels and electricity generation.

Saturday, 14 September 2013

Thorium Based Nuclear Power Is An Option

This page is not meant to be an in depth study of Thorium Reactors.
Its an introduction to the fact that they have existed and are about to exist again.
They have many benefits, and are a much more useful and manageable process
than any current solid fuel Uranium based reactors.

You know those times , online usually, when some often well intentioned fellow traveller says that nuclear is the only truly green option ....

Which doesn't really make a great case for keeping the current stock of Reactors.
Or believing that a new crop has all bases covered.

The core arguments include;

carbon capture is cool but not up to it.

safer than coal.

new reactors are safer than old designs

Well, assuming that the usage case implies a very high density fuel (as implied by Nukes), ask them why Thorium is not an option worth exploring. If your going to exploit some of the most dangerous stuff in the solar system you may as well get it as right as it can be. The safe operation of such potentially dangerous production, supply and disposal processes should be intrinsically safe. What are you going to be doing 200 years from now ?

Finally point out that they are weighting the "base load" thing , and the "energy density" thing, mythologies way too highly in any case.
But hey, there are places it makes some sort of sense:
Norway India and China think so.

Places with high population densities and low access to space and renewable energy, are one.

Places where Nuclear and associated grid / support structures are already in place. These reactors can even help consume (some of) the waste.